Weapons of Mass Discussion

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

San Fran Chronicle Gets It Wrong

Angry House Democrats, still smarting over extraordinary parliamentary maneuvers that Republicans used last month to pass the Medicare bill President Bush signed Monday, sought to upstage Bush's big moment by taking to the floor to embarrass the House leadership.

In winning a 220-215 vote in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 22, the House Republican leadership turned a scheduled 15-minute vote into a three-hour marathon, time they used to twist arms to produce a winning margin. One member, Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., later indicated he was offered a $100,000 contribution for the campaign of his son, who is running to succeed him next year, if he would change his vote against the measure. He didn't.

"The Medicare vote will be remembered as one of the lowest moments in the history of the House,'' Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said Monday during a sometimes raucous debate over a motion she introduced calling on the House GOP leaders "to prevent any further abuse'' of voting rules.

"Not one member of the elected leadership of the majority will show his face on the floor to defend'' the vote, she said, to applause from her fellow Democrats. The House voted to table Pelosi's motion 207-182.

Emphasis added by editor.

Get the story from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Matt's Chat

The Democrats didn't seem to have a problem with taking an extended time vote in that 1987 budget bill. The Dems seem to get all up in arms when Republicans learn the lesson and use the Dem tactics against them.

The Chronicle didn't bother to point out that Rep. Smith RECANTED his comment about being offered moeny for his son's campaign. It is an OUTRAGE for Pelosi and the Chronicle to use a false statement like that for political gain WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS UNTRUE. Shame indeed, Ms. Pelosi. Shame on YOU and your liberal newspapers that can't seem to do any objective research.